Oilers Deal Collapses

Notebook

November 5, 1997

HOUSTON ROCKETS owner Leslie Alexander won't be adding the Edmonton Oilers to his holdings because the Canadian city is insisting that the team not be moved for at least seven years. Alexander won't promise to leave the team in the Alberta capital that long, and city officials won't back down. ''Without having those conditions met, we can't buy the team,'' Alexander said Tuesday. Alexander had signed a deal - reportedly worth $88.8 million - to take control of the NHL club and possibly move it to Texas in a few years if the team lost money.

PANTHERS' COACH SUSPENDED

FLORIDA'S Doug MacLean has been suspended for two games, without pay, and fined $5,000 as a result of a confrontation with officials, the NHL announced. The incident occurred at the conclusion of the overtime period in Saturday's game between Buffalo and Florida. ''Mr. MacLean's behavior in pursuing referee Dennis LaRue on the ice at the end of the game was clearly unacceptable,'' said Brian Burke, NHL director of hockey operations. MacLean will miss the Panthers' next two games, today vs. New Jersey and Thursday at Buffalo.